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Medicines in Development for Asthma

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working on 74 medicines to treat asthma, according to a report released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). All of the medicines are either in clinical trials or awaiting review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Asthma is a lifelong disease that can limit a person’s quality of life and even lead to death, if not treated properly,” said PhRMA President and CEO John J. Castellani. “The good news is that potential treatments highlighted in this report offer asthma sufferers new hope of living a healthier, more productive lives.”

Asthma is a narrowing of the airways to the lungs caused by inflammation in the air passages, resulting from both genetic and environmental influences. Today, more than 24 million American adults and children suffer from asthma, with the prevalence increasing 12 percent in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each day, 40,000 Americans miss school or work due to asthma, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $56 billion each year in direct and indirect costs.

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